Workout garment

ABSTRACT

A workout garment device consisting of a dickie and a hood, the front panel of the dickie comprising a moisture absorbing material for wiping sweat from a user&#39;s face, and the hood and back panel of the dickie each comprising a moisture wicking material for wicking sweat away from the user&#39;s head and shoulders.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel device in the area of workout apparel. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention pertain to a workout garment device consisting of a dickie and a hood, the garment comprising both a moisture wicking material and a moisture absorbing material.

DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND

Many people perspire on their head and neck when exercising, but may not have access to a towel or other item for wiping away such perspiration, potentially allowing sweat to get into their eyes and otherwise leave them uncomfortable or distracted while exercising. Even if a towel is available, it may not be easily carried while exercising, and if it drops on the ground it may become soiled and undesirable for use. Further, because perspiration functions as a cooling mechanism for the body, a person's head and/or neck may become sweaty while exercising vigorously, and subsequently become cold while performing less vigorous exercises. A towel is not convenient for keeping a person's head or neck warm while exercising, particularly if it cannot be securely tucked into a shirt or other garment.

Wearing a hooded sweatshirt can help with these problems. However, a person may not want to wear a full hooded sweatshirt due to its bulk, which can reduce range of movement or get caught on exercise equipment, or the fact that it blocks heat from escaping which has been released from a wearer's torso and arms. Additionally, the pockets of a hooded sweatshirt are not ideal for securing keys, wallets, phones, or other music players, as the pockets typically open horizontally and without a fastener, allowing items to fall out due to the movement of normal exercise routines, and plug-in earphone wires running from the pocket all the way up to a user's ears can easily get caught on exercise equipment or other objects.

Another options is an absorbent wrap which is wrapped around the head and/or neck and secured by engaging a fastening device (e.g., a pair of strings or fasting strips of Velcro). However, absorbent wraps do not serve the dual function of wicking sweat away from the skin of the user, and they may fall off if the fastening device becomes disengaged during vigorous exercise.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved workout garment device which avoids these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved workout garment device. Embodiments of the present invention provide a lightweight workout garment device having a hood with sweat wicking capability, a dickie with sweat absorbing anterior flap, and a pocket for securely holding personal items and/or technological devices, or for stuffing the hood into when the hood is not in use.

The workout garment may be capable of wicking sweat from the head of the user via the hood, while at the same time the front panel of the dickie may be used to absorb sweat from the face and neck of the user by wiping or dabbing. The back panel and shoulders portion of the dickie may also be made at least in part from a moisture wicking material to increase the cooling effect of the workout garment. The workout garment can be worn with the hood up, and when the hood is not desired it can be tucked into a pocket on the back panel of the dickie. The pocket may have a vertical orientation with a horizontal opening such that personal items or mobile devices placed in the pocket are less likely to fall out than they would be in the pocket of a hooded sweatshirt. For further security, the pocket may have a fastener such as Velcro strips or a zipper. The pocket may have a small diameter passage within the pocket so that an earphone wire running from a music player or other mobile device in the pocket may pass through the passage and to the user's ears without having to wrap around the outside of the hood, reducing the chance that the wire(s) may get caught on exercise equipment or other objects.

The workout garment may have a slit running from the chin area of the hood down through a portion of the front panel to make it easier to put the garment on and take it off. The slit may have a fastening device such as a zipper or Velcro so that it can be secured in a closed position when being worn, or in an open position in order to increase airflow to a user's neck area. The workout garment may be shaped so that it will not easily fall off of the user while performing vigorous exercises (e.g., running, bicycling, stationary bicycling, weight lifting, aerobics, calisthenics, and other modern exercises such as aerobic kickboxing, etc.) even if the slit is left open. The workout garment may subsequently keep the user's head and neck warm while performing less vigorous exercises (e.g., stretching, yoga, walking, light jogging, etc.). Further, the hood may have a drawstring running around the facial opening so that the user can tighten the hood around his or her face.

In some embodiments, the hood may comprise a collar portion, a facial opening, and a head pocket. The collar portion may comprise a circumferential extension (e.g., a tubular shape) capable of wrapping about a neck of a user. The collar portion may extend from the neck hole of the dickie to the facial opening and head pocket of the hood. In some embodiments, the collar portion may comprise an elasticity such that it may stretch outwardly in order to fit over the head and then retract to fit snugly on the neck of the user.

In some embodiments, the collar portion may comprise a slit opening leading from a lower end of the facial opening down into a front panel of the dickie. The slit opening may comprise a first edge having a first fastening device, and a second edge having a second fastening device, wherein the first fastening device may engage with the second fastening device to secure the first edge and the second edge together. The slit may thus have an open position and a closed position, the collar portion having a larger diameter in the open position, allowing the collar portion to more easily fit over the head of a user, and having a smaller diameter in the closed position, securing the collar portion around the neck of the user. The first fastening device and the second fastening device may each comprise any device capable of releasably engaging with the other. In some embodiments, the first fastening device and the second fastening device may comprise a button and a hole, a hook and a hole, a clasp and a loop, complementary hook-and-loop materials (e.g., Velcro), two strings which may be tied together, two sides of a zipper, or other similar complementary fastening devices.

It is to be appreciated, however, that even when the slit opening is in the open position, the workout garment device may be capable of remaining on the head and/or shoulders of the user during a vigorous workout, without falling off.

In some embodiments, the facial opening may comprise a large, substantially ovular opening in the front of the hood, the facial opening having a diameter sufficient to fit over the head of a user. The facial opening may comprise a shape which is complementary to the shape of a human face (e.g., substantially ovular), such that when the hood is being worn on the head of a user and a drawstring is not tightened, the user's face is substantially uncovered.

In some embodiments, the facial opening may comprise a drawstring channel and a drawstring. The drawstring channel may comprise a tubular channel running around a portion of the perimeter of the facial opening, the drawstring channel having a plurality of drawstring openings. The plurality of drawstring openings may comprise a first opening and a second opening, wherein either the first end or the second end of the drawstring may pass through the first opening, then through the length of the drawstring channel, and then out through the second opening, while the other end of the drawstring remains outside of the drawstring channel. In some embodiments, the drawstring may have a length sufficient to pass through the drawstring channel and allow the first end and second end to extend far enough out of the first and second openings such that a user may easily grab the first and second ends and tie them together without reducing the circumference of the facial opening. In some embodiments, the drawstring may comprise a stopper on each of the first end and second end, the stoppers being operable to prevent the first and second ends from being pulled through the first and second openings.

The head pocket may describe the back side of the hood and comprise a substantially semispherical shape. The substantially semispherical shape may be complementary to the shape of a human head, such that the head pocket may fit comfortably on the head of a user when the hood is being worn.

The hood may comprise a moisture wicking material capable of wicking sweat from the head and/or neck of a user. In some embodiments, the moisture wicking material may comprise any material having a high capillary pressure, causing moisture to move along or through the moisture wicking material from an inner surface to an outer surface, while only absorbing a small portion (e.g., from 0% to about 10%, and preferably from about 0% to about 4%) of the moisture, and having a permeability sufficient to allow the volume of sweat produced during a vigorous exercise routine to be pulled from the user's skin and/or hair. The moisture wicking material may comprise at least one of polyester fibers, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, merino wool fibers, bamboo pulp fibers, Gore-Tex coated fibers, Spandex material, TENCEL material, CoolMax brand material, viscose material, and other similar moisture wicking material(s).

In some embodiments, the dickie may comprise a front panel, a back panel, and a shoulders portion having a neck hole. The front panel may comprise a length sufficient for a user to raise the front panel up to wipe or dab moisture from the user's face and neck. In some embodiments, the front panel may comprise a substantially polygonal shape having angular corners. In other embodiments, the front panel may comprise a lower edge having a rounded shape. In yet other embodiments, the front panel may have substantially straight left, right, and lower sides, with rounded corners between the sides.

The front panel may comprise a moisture absorbing material. In some embodiments, the moisture absorbing material may comprise any material which allows the front panel to be used to quickly and easily absorb sweat from the face and neck of the user via wiping or dabbing. In some embodiments, the moisture absorbing material may comprise at least one of cotton fibers, polymer coated cotton fibers, a blend of bamboo and cotton fibers, hemp fibers, a blend of cotton and hemp fibers, synthetic microfiber material, wool fibers, and other similar moisture absorbing material(s).

In some embodiments, the front panel may comprise a material which is the same as the material of the back panel and the shoulders portion of the dickie. In other embodiments, the front panel may comprise a different material than the back panel and shoulders portion of the dickie. In yet other embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a moisture wicking material adjacent to the back panel, and a moisture absorbing material adjacent to the front panel.

In some embodiments, the front panel may comprise a slit opening extending at least part way down the front panel. The slit opening may be integral with the slit opening of the collar portion of the hood, wherein a single slit extends down from a lower end of the facial opening to at least part way down the front panel. The slit opening may comprise a first edge having a first fastening device, and a second edge having a second fastening device, wherein the first fastening device may engage with the second fastening device to secure the first edge and the second edge together. In some embodiments, the first fastening device and the second fastening device may comprise at least one of a button and a hole, a hook and a hole, a clasp and a loop, complementary hook-and-loop materials (e.g., Velcro), two strings which may be tied together, two sides of a zipper, and other similar complementary fastening device(s).

In some embodiments, the back panel may comprise a substantially polygonal shape having angular corners. In other embodiments, the back panel may comprise a lower edge having a rounded shape. In yet other embodiments, the back panel may comprise substantially straight left, right, and lower sides, with rounded corners between the sides. In some embodiments, the back panel may comprise a length substantially equal to the length of the front panel. In other embodiments, the back panel may comprise a shorter or longer length than the front panel. In some embodiments, the back panel may comprise a moisture wicking material. In other embodiments, the back panel may comprise a moisture absorbing material.

The back panel may comprise a pocket. In some embodiments, the pocket may comprise a substantially horizontal pocket opening located at an upper end of the back panel. In some embodiments, the pocket opening may comprise a width greater than a diameter of the collar portion, allowing the hood to be easily tucked into the pocket in a generally flat orientation such that there is little or no bunching of material. In other embodiments, the pocket opening may comprise a width smaller than a diameter of the collar portion of the hood (e.g., having a width sufficient to hold a smart phone or a wallet).

In some embodiments, the pocket opening may comprise a fastening device to secure the pocket opening in a closed position. The fastening device of the pocket opening may comprise any device capable of releasably securing the pocket opening in a closed position. In some embodiments, the fastening device of the pocket opening may comprise at least one of a snap fastener, a clasp and a loop, complementary hook-and-loop materials (e.g., Velcro), a zipper, and other similar fastening device(s).

The shoulders portion may be disposed between the front panel and back panel of the dickie and comprise a centrally disposed, substantially circular neck opening. In some embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a substantially polygonal shape (e.g., a rectangular shape or a hexagonal shape having two longer opposite sides at the front and back of the shoulders portion). In other embodiments, the shoulders portion may have two substantially straight sides at the front and back, and two substantially curved sides at the left shoulder and right shoulder of the user. In some embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a slit opening running from the neck opening to the front panel, the slit opening being integral with a slit opening of the collar portion of the hood and a slit opening of the front panel. In some embodiments, the slit opening of the shoulders portion may comprise a first edge having a first fastening device, and a second edge having a second fastening device. In some embodiments, the first and second fastening devices of the slit opening of the shoulders portion may each be the same type of fastening device as the first and second fastening devices of the slit opening of the collar portion, respectively (e.g., complementary hook-and-loop materials or complementary sides of a zipper).

In some embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a moisture wicking material. In other embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a moisture absorbing material. In some embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise the same material as, and may be integral with, the front panel. In other embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise the same material as, and be integral with, the hood. In yet other embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise the same material as, and be integral with, the back panel. In yet other embodiments, the shoulders portion may comprise a moisture wicking material adjacent to the back panel and a back side of the hood, and a moisture absorbing material adjacent to the front panel and a front side of the hood.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which wicks sweat from the skin and/or hair of a user.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which may be used to absorb sweat from a user's face and neck via wiping or dabbing.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which does not need to be carried by hand or fastened together in order to remain on the user during vigorous exercises.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which can keep the head of a user warm during less vigorous exercises.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which does not insulate heat from leaving the torso of a user.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment device which can securely hold personal items, mobile devices, or other music players.

Additional aspects and objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a frontal view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 provides a frontal view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a side view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a rear view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 provides a side view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 provides a top-down view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 provides a bottom-up view of a workout garment device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring to FIGS. 1-7, it is seen that the present invention includes various embodiments of a workout garment device.

The present invention relates to an improved workout garment device capable of wicking sweat from the head of a user and absorbing sweat from the face and neck of the user. The device may include a hood, a dickie, and a pocket.

FIGS. 1-7 provide several views of a workout garment device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The workout garment device 100 may comprise a hood 110 comprising a moisture wicking material 111, a dickie 120 comprising a moisture absorbing material 121, and a pocket 130 for securely holding personal items and/or mobile devices, or for stowing the hood 110 when not in use.

The hood 110 may comprise a collar portion 112, a facial opening 113, and a head pocket 114. The collar portion 112 may comprise a circumferential extension (e.g., a substantially tubular shape) capable of wrapping about a neck of a user 101. The collar portion 112 may extend from the neck hole 125 of the dickie 120 to the facial opening 113 and head pocket 114 of the hood 110. In some embodiments, the collar portion 112 may comprise an elasticity such that it may stretch outwardly in order to fit over the head of the user 101 and then retract to fit snugly on the neck of the user 101.

The collar portion 112 may comprise a slit opening 140 leading from a lower end of the facial opening 113 down into a front panel 122 of the dickie 120. The slit opening 140 may comprise a first edge having a first fastening device, and a second edge having a second fastening device, wherein the first fastening device may engage with the second fastening device to secure the first edge and the second edge together in a closed position. The first fastening device and the second fastening device may comprise at least one of a snap fastener, a hook and a hole, a clasp and a loop, complementary hook-and-loop materials (e.g., Velcro), complementary sides of a zipper, and other similar complementary fastening device(s). It is to be appreciated, however, that even when the first fastening device and second fastening device are not engaged and the slit opening 140 is in an open position (not shown), the workout garment device 100 may remain on the head and/or shoulders of the user 101 during a vigorous workout, without falling off.

The facial opening 113 may comprise a large, substantially ovular opening in the front of the hood 110, the facial opening 113 having a diameter sufficient to fit over the head of a user 101. The facial opening 113 may comprise a shape which is complementary to the shape of a human face (e.g., substantially ovular), such that when the hood 110 is being worn on the head of a user 101 and a drawstring 115 is not tightened, the user's face is substantially uncovered. The facial opening may comprise a drawstring channel and a drawstring 115. The drawstring channel may comprise a tubular channel running around a portion of the circumference of the facial opening 113, the drawstring channel having a plurality of drawstring openings 116. The drawstring may comprise a plurality of stoppers 117 at the drawstring's ends.

The head pocket 114 may be located on the back side of the hood 110 and comprise a substantially semi spherical shape. The substantially semi spherical shape may be complementary to the shape of a human head, such that the head pocket 114 may fit comfortably on the head of a user 101 when the hood 110 is being worn.

The hood 110 may comprise a moisture wicking material 111 capable of wicking sweat from the head and/or neck of a user 101. The moisture wicking material 111 may comprise at least one of polyester fibers, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, merino wool fibers, bamboo pulp fibers, Gore-Tex coated fibers, Spandex material, TENCEL material, CoolMax brand material, viscose material, and other similar moisture wicking material(s).

The dickie 120 may comprise a front panel 122, a back panel 123, and a shoulders portion 124, the shoulders portion 124 comprising a neck hole 125. The front panel 122 may comprise a length sufficient for the user 101 to raise the front panel 122 up to wipe or dab moisture from the user's face and/or neck. The front panel 122 may comprise a substantially polygonal shape having rounded corners and may comprise a moisture absorbing material 121. The moisture absorbing material 121 may comprise at least one of cotton fibers, polymer coated cotton fibers, a blend of bamboo and cotton fibers, hemp fibers, a blend of cotton and hemp fibers, synthetic microfiber material, wool fibers, and other similar moisture absorbing material(s).

The back panel 123 may comprise a substantially polygonal shape and have a length substantially equal to a length of the front panel 122. Other shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present invention such as a semi-circle shape, polygonal shapes with rounded corners, and other rounded shapes. The back panel 123 may comprise a moisture wicking material 111 and be integral with the shoulders portion 124.

The back panel 123 may comprise a pocket 130. The pocket 130 may comprise a substantially horizontal pocket opening 131 located at an upper end of the back panel 123. The pocket opening 131 may comprise a width greater than a diameter of the collar portion 112, allowing the hood 110 to be easily tucked into the pocket 130 in a generally flat orientation such that there is little or no bunching of material. The pocket 130 may further comprise a small diameter passage 132 such that wire(s) of earphones running from a music player or other mobile device in the pocket 130 may pass through the passage 132 and to the ear(s) of the user 101 without having to wrap around the outside of the hood 110.

As shown in FIG. 7, the shoulders portion 124 may be disposed between the front panel 122 and back panel 123 of the dickie 120 and may comprise a centrally disposed, substantially circular neck opening 125. The shoulders portion 124 may comprise a substantially polygonal shape (e.g., a rectangular shape or a hexagonal shape having two longer opposite sides at the front and back of the shoulders portion 124). The shoulders portion 124 may comprise a slit opening 140 running from the neck opening 125 to the front panel 122, the slit opening 140 being integral to the slit opening of the collar portion 112 of the hood 110 and the slit opening of the front panel 122. The shoulders portion 124 may comprise a moisture wicking material 111 adjacent to the back panel and a back side of the hood, and be integral with the back panel 123. The shoulders portion 124 may also comprise a moisture absorbing material 121 adjacent to the front panel 122 and be integral with the front panel 122.

It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed:
 1. A workout garment comprising: a. a hood, said hood comprising a moisture-wicking material; b. a front panel comprising a moisture-absorbing material; and c. a back panel comprising a moisture-wicking material.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein said front panel and said back panel are connected by a shoulders portion.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein said back panel comprises a pocket.
 4. The garment of claim 3, wherein said pocket comprises an opening having fastening device.
 5. The garment of claim 4, wherein said pocket further comprises a passage to an interior of said workout garment device.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein said front panel comprises a slit, said slit comprising a fastening device.
 7. The garment of claim 2, wherein said shoulders portion comprises both said moisture wicking material and said moisture absorbing material.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein said moisture wicking material comprises at least one of polyester fibers, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, merino wool fibers, bamboo pulp fibers, Gore-Tex coated fibers, spandex material, TENCEL material, CoolMax brand material, or viscose material.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein said moisture absorbing material comprises at least one of cotton fibers, polymer coated cotton fibers, a blend of bamboo and cotton fibers, hemp fibers, a blend of cotton and hemp fibers, synthetic microfiber material, or wool fibers.
 10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front panel covers a portion of the chest of the wearer and does not connect with the back panel.
 11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the garment does not include sleeves, and the back panel covers a portion of the upper back of the wearer and does not connect with the front panel.
 12. A workout garment for keeping a user dry and cool, said workout garment device comprising: a. a hood having a facial opening, said hood comprising a moisture wicking material for wicking sweat from said user's head and neck; b. a front panel comprising a moisture absorbing material for absorbing sweat from a user's face or neck, and a slit; c. a back panel comprising said moisture wicking material and a pocket having an opening for storing personal items; and d. a shoulders portion comprising said moisture wicking material and said moisture absorbing material.
 13. The garment of claim 12, wherein said pocket further comprises a fastening device for securing said personal items in said pocket, and a passage for passing a wire from an interior said pocket to an interior of said workout garment device.
 14. The garment of claim 12, wherein the front panel covers a portion of the chest of the wearer and does not connect with the back panel.
 15. The garment of claim 12, wherein the garment does not include sleeves, and the back panel covers a portion of the upper back of the wearer and does not connect with the front panel.
 16. A method of using the device of claim 1, comprising the steps of: a. donning said workout garment device; b. utilizing said front panel to wipe sweat from the face or neck of a user.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein said garment further comprises a front panel with a slit having a first fastening device, and further comprising the step of: a. fastening said first fastening device.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said back panel having a pocket, and further comprising the step of: a. putting a personal item into said pocket.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said back panel having a pocket, and further comprising the step of: a. stuffing said hood into said pocket.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said pocket further comprises a second fastening device, and further comprising the step of: a. fastening said second fastening device. 